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1964 Epiphone Triumph A-412
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Serial #: 181105. Body size at lower bout: 17 3/8" Scale length: 25 1/2" Width at nut: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .87/1.05
Materials: Solid carved bookmatched Sitka spruce top; arched maple back and sides; solid mahogany neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl inlay; compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge, pearl peghead inlay, three-ply body binding, bound peghead; bone nut.
Hardware: Original hardware includes New York style Frequensator tailpiece, compensated adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge, pickguard bracket, and adjustable truss and cover. Vintage correct bound tortoise pickguard, and double ring Kluson Deluxe tuners.
Notes: Introduced in 1932, the Triumph was the Epiphone company's best selling professional sized guitar. The cutaway version, dubbed Triumph Regent, made its debut in 1949, and was offered until the firm ceased production in 1956. Gibson purchased the Epiphone company the following year, and by 1959 had revived the model, building them on the same factory line as the L-5 and other pro-series Gibson archtops.
The Gibson/Epi Triumph was given the model number A-412, and comparably priced to the Gibson L-7C. With its slightly larger body, and deeper cutaway, the Triumph offered an attractive alternative for the serious guitarist. This exceptional example is one of a mere 42 Triumphs produced by Gibson in this model year, just four years before the model was discontinued in 1968, making it one of Gibson's rarest archtop models.
Gibson had acquired a small quantity of old-stock parts and bodies from Epiphone, and the postwar script logo neck and long tail Pat. Pend. Frequensator both appear to be from that small stash, which was quickly expended. The NY Epiphone neck is a welcome find for the contemporary player: unlike the notably skinny necks of later Gibson Epis, this one boasts a full width 1 11/16" nut, and a gentle light D profile, fine and elegant in the hand.
This striking guitar has been maintained in museum quality condition, without even the typical checking one usually expects in a true lacquer finish of this considerable vintage. The wide pattern sunburst finish is all original, and the Brazilian rosewood fingerboard shows highly polished pro fretwork in immaculate condition. The arched maple back shows fine slab cut figure, and the deep Epiphone cutaway, 2 frets more than the L-7C, allows unrestricted access to the uppermost reaches of the fingerboard.
At just 5lb 13oz, the instrument is happily light in weight, and balances nimbly on the lap or the strap. A true acoustic archtop, this guitar has never had a pickup attached to it for the length of its long career. The voice is clear and bright, with excellent projection, and the depth of tone only many decades of seasoned tonewood can convey. Apart from a few incidental finish nicks, this handsome guitar looks much as it must have when it left Kalamazoo over six decades ago. Complete with its deluxe period black hardshell case, this is a rare find indeed, and an exceptional value in a true '60s era Gibson classic. One only: call now.
Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with light relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
